Articles Tagged withCalifornia L.A. marijuana attorney

It is well-known that marijuana and cannabis products can do a lot to help with the pain of many serious medical conditions. These products have proven invaluable to cancer patients, helping them overcome the often powerful nausea and lack of appetite caused by chemotherapy. Because marijuana returns their appetite, this in turn improves the odds of recovery, given that wasting is a common side effect of cancer treatments. Now, according to a new report from VICE, marijuana could also be invaluable to patients with HIV.

A new study concludes the active ingredients in marijuana may reduce the HIV viral lode. If true, this goes beyond helping with pain and other symptoms of the disease.

Since marijuana is still classified as a Schedule One controlled substance of the U.S. Controlled Substances Act of 1970 (USCSA), it is very difficult for researchers who get federal money to conduct any studies. Being on the highest schedule means that it does not have any valid medial use, as established by peer reviewed research, has a high potential for abuse, and is dangerous. While there is no question that marijuana is not chemically addictive and is not dangerous, it is hard to get peer-reviewed federal studies when conducting such studies were nearly impossible. Continue reading

The Orange County government controls the unincorporated areas of the county. According to a recent news article from the Los Angeles Times, Orange County officials are taking steps to ban the sale of marijuana and the distribution of marijuana within its jurisdictional limits.

A new ordinance was preliminarily approved by the Orange County Board of Supervisors with all but one supervisor voting in opposition to the proposed measure. Supervisor Shaw Nelson argued that this proposed ordinance is contrary to the desires of the voters of California who voted to legalize the sale of recreational marijuana in our state. Continue reading

While California was at one time the most progressive state in terms of medical marijuana legalization, as it was the first state to allow for such an unheard of thing in 1996, there are other states, and the District of Columbia, that have legalized marijuana for adult recreational use. However, it should be noted that California is expected to far outpace the rest of the country in terms of the money being made once recreational marijuana becomes legal in 2018.

A recent article from The Union discusses how that fact that California was not first to legalize the recreational use of marijuana for adults might not be such a bad thing, because we will get to learn from some of the problems and “pitfalls” other states had when they first legalized recreational marijuana. Continue reading

We have been waiting to see if there was going to be a budget agreement to prevent a government shutdown for much of the first 100 days of President Donald J. Trump’s administration. Even though it looked like there would be no hope of reaching a joint resolution given the partisan nature of Congress these days, they were able to do just that at the 11th hour.

However, this last-minute budget resolution did not merely put off a government shutdown until at least September 2017. It also prevents the federal government from cracking down on medical marijuana in states where it is legal, according to a recent news article from ABC News 7 Denver. The lengthy budget deal contains restrictions that prevent the U.S. Department of Justice or any of its subsidiary agencies including, but not limited to, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) from using any of its budgeted funds to crack down on medical marijuana in a list of states included in the bill. Continue reading

When medical marijuana was first legalized in California more than two decades ago, the state was not heavily involved in the regulation process. While anyone in the state could use medical marijuana if they had a valid doctor’s recommendation for the use of medical cannabis, it was up the counties and incorporated municipalities to decide if there could be dispensaries in their respective jurisdictions and if there could be grow operations.

Not surprisingly, some areas were very liberal with respect to medical marijuana production and sales and others were less liberal. Some areas did not permit any growing or sales within the city or county limits. A few years ago, the state started to become concerned that they were getting left out of the process, and this was creating a regulatory void. While it was up to individual municipalities to grow or dispense, there were many other state laws regarding agriculture and water usage. Since much of California is in the desert, and water supply is often far less than demand, this can create a major issue. Continue reading

While we normally think of medical marijuana for use on human patients, there is actually an increasing demand for medical cannabis products designed for use by pets according to a recent news article from the New York Times. A woman interviewed for the article discuss how medical marijuana has helped her cat and how she is part of a growing customer base.

This woman owned a 12-year-old cat that was suffering from severe arthritis. As anyone who owns an aging pet can tell you, cats and dogs often suffer from arthritis just like humans do and it is hard to watch our beloved animals struggle to get around and go up and down steps. This cat would spend its time hiding in a closet on a thick layer of blankets provided by its owner as means of dealing with the painful joint condition. Continue reading

A recent article in the local section of the Los Angeles Times, discusses the conversations a medical cannabis candy company is having with parents who are concerned with their children’s health and what the future may bring if Proposition 64 passes when put to a vote in the upcoming November election. For those who are not familiar, this ballot initiative will determine if marijuana is legal for recreational use in California as it is Colorado and a small number of other states and the District of Columbia. While it is far from a done deal, many in the medical marijuana industry think the ballot initiative will pass.

As for this candy company, they make edible cannabis products in the form of various confections and are considered among the best in the area. The company prides itself on the quality of the product just like any other artisan chocolate maker would. As of now, these candy bars and other candy products are only sold to dispensaries where they are then distributed to medical marijuana patients with a valid doctor’s recommendation that is cross-checked for authentication, and the patient’s identification and age is verified. Continue reading

One of the ongoing threats to California marijuana dispensaries, growers and users is the ongoing federal prohibition on the drug.

To this day, despite the increasing research findings proving the medicinal and societal benefits of the drug, it remains under a Schedule I narcotic designation by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). This is true even as lawmakers in four states plus Washington, D.C. have approved the cultivation, sale and possession of recreational use. This prohibition is what has forced marijuana dispensaries to operate in cash, because banks won’t handle their money. It’s the reason marijuana cultivators and distributors have faced criminal prosecution, even when carefully following state laws.

The good news is that there are many signs this could be on the verge of changing. For one thing, national polls show 89 percent of Americans support medical cannabis – and that includes 81 percent of Republicans. Continue reading